Esara International School vs Lanna International School Thailand
Esara International School and Lanna International School Thailand are both in Chiang Mai, about 6 km apart. Both schools offer British and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. Esara International School also offers Montessori, Cambridge A Levels and BTEC Qualification, and Lanna International School Thailand also offers IEYC, IPC, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge International AS Levels and Reggio Emilia. Published annual fees are close, at THB 495,900 - 750,000 for Esara International School and THB 413,400 - 803,400 for Lanna International School Thailand. Esara International School takes pupils from 1 to 16, and Lanna International School Thailand from 2 to 18. Typical class sizes are 12 at Esara International School and 20 at Lanna International School Thailand.
Montessori Curriculum, British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification
Curriculum
IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Reggio Emilia Approach
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
978
Typical class size
Typical class size
12
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
1993
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50230. 229/1-2, 4 Ban Roychan Nongkhwai, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai. It is situated in the Hang Dong district.
Location
Lanna International School is located in Hang Dong, a quiet suburb just south of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The school is set in a semi-rural area surrounded by greenery, about 20 minutes from the city centre. The campus is accessible by main roads and close to family-friendly residential neighbourhoods. The surrounding area is peaceful, with good transport links into central Chiang Mai.
Stages
Stages
Toddler Community (18 months–3 years); Children's House (3–6 years); Lower Elementary (6–9 years); Upper Elementary (9–12 years); Middle School (12–16 years); Secondary (12–16 years).
Stages
The school is structured into three main sections: Early Years (ages 2–4), Primary (ages 5–11), and Secondary (Years 7–13). The curriculum transitions from the IEYC and IPC in the Early Years and Primary School to the Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level programme in the Secondary School.
School type
School type
Montessori-based international school
School type
Lanna International School is a co-educational day school and does not offer boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Counseling services and individualized mental/behavioral health support; holistic wellbeing; small class sizes; collaboration with families.
Additional learning support
The school offers learning support services tailored to students with mild to moderate additional learning needs. This includes support within mainstream classrooms and additional sessions when appropriate.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Thailand
Country affiliation
Lanna International School is not formally affiliated with any single country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
The school is non-denominational and has no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
Students arrive between 8-9 am; classes begin at 9 am; 1-hour break in the middle of the day (30 minutes for lunch and 30 minutes for recess); after-school enrichment programs run from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.
School day structure
The typical school day runs from approximately 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Students have mid-morning and lunchtime breaks, with lunch available on campus. Exact timings may vary slightly by age group.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
The school offers a daily bus service for students.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & enrolment fees - No specific non‑refundable application fee, enrolment fee, registration fee, or one‑time acceptance fee is stated. A deposit for the upcoming term is recorded on the school calendar, but no deposit amount or separate registration charge is published.
Tuition fees (per term) — by programme / year group - Toddler Community (18 months–3 years): THB 165,300 per term. - Children's House (3–6 years): THB 180,300 per term. - Lower Elementary (6–9 years): THB 214,800 per term. - Upper Elementary (9–12 years): THB 224,100 per term. - Secondary / Middle School (12–16 years): THB 250,000 per term.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is quoted and billed on a per‑term basis. - The academic calendar uses defined term periods and records specific fee deadlines: the calendar shows items such as a term deposit due date and a school fees balance due date for each term; exact due dates vary by term and are published on the school calendar. - New admissions are accepted only at official new‑term start dates; families are advised to plan ahead because enrolment aligns with the term intake cycle.
Boarding fees - No boarding programme is offered; therefore, no boarding fees apply. The school operates programmes for ages 18 months up to 16 years as a day school.
Other costs and recurring extras - Lunch: The school provides lunch for students. Whether lunch is included in tuition or charged separately is not specified. - Uniforms and school clothing: No mandatory uniform fee or published uniform cost is specified. - After‑school enrichment and extracurricular programmes exist; specific programme fees (if any) are not listed alongside the term tuition. - Other potential third‑party or exam fees (external exam entry, field trips, specialist services, EAL support, insurance, etc.) are not detailed with amounts in the published fee information.
Refunds and cancellations - A formal refund policy and conditions for tuition or deposit refunds are not published with the fee listings. No specific refund amounts, timelines, or refund conditions are provided in the publicly available fee information.
Fee payment options and methods - Specific payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, local bank details, online payment portal, in‑person payment, or accepted international payment methods) are not itemised alongside the fee schedule. Families should expect term‑based invoicing and fee deadlines, with payment logistics provided through admissions or the school operations team.
Notes on scheduling and planning - The school publishes a term calendar with clear term start and end periods and with explicit fee due items (deposit and balance due dates) noted for each term; families should plan around those term dates for deposits and fee balances.
Summary of available and missing fee information - Available: definitive per‑term tuition rates for all programme levels (amounts listed above) and evidence that billing is term‑based with deposit and balance due items recorded on the school calendar. - Not available in the published fee material: any named application/registration/enrolment fee amounts, the value of the term deposit, explicit annual totals or a published per‑year billing table, itemised lists of additional mandatory charges (uniform, books, transport, insurance), a published refund policy with conditions and amounts, and the accepted payment methods and bank details. These items were not provided alongside the per‑term tuition figures and term calendar entries.
School Transport (Home to School, per year): Zone A: THB 37,800 Zone B: THB 50,400 Zone C: THB 56,700
English Support Levy (Non-refundable) Intensive English Support: THB 40,000 per year Intensive English + After School English Tutoring: THB 64,000 per year
Sibling Discounts 2nd child: 10% 3rd child: 15% Note: discounts are applied automatically and removed if accounts become delinquent.
Refund Policy 70% refund if withdrawal is before the semester begins 50% refund if within 1–20 days of semester start 20% refund if within 21–40 days No refund after 40 days into the semester
Payment Methods Payments are accepted via bank transfer.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
AMI Montessori framework guides the curriculum. Esara uses mixed-age classrooms for ages 3 and up, with a three-hour work cycle. Early Years include Toddler Community and Children's House (ages 3–6). Elementary is designed for ages 6–12 in two mixed-age groups. Middle School serves ages 12–16, focusing on independent learning and collaborative work. The program emphasizes hands-on materials in mathematics, language, geography, biology, and geometry, building concentration, order, independence, and social responsibility.
Curriculum details
Lanna International School offers a curriculum based on the English National Curriculum and Cambridge International framework. In the Early Years (ages 2–4), students follow the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) with a focus on play-based learning. Primary School (Years 1–6) continues with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) integrated with core subjects like English, mathematics, and science. From Years 7–9, students study a broad range of subjects in line with the Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum. In Years 10–11, students prepare for the Cambridge IGCSE, selecting from over 20 subject options. Years 12–13 follow the Cambridge International AS and A Level programme, providing in-depth specialization in subjects required for university admission. English is the language of instruction, and additional languages include Thai, French, and Chinese. In addition to the core A-level studies, the school also offers preparatory courses for SAT (USA College Board) and IELTS (UK alternative to TOEFL), and, optionally, a UK-accredited Sports Leadership course and/or the opportunity to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.
The school adjusts the number of newly enrolled students each term based on classroom sizes and school capacity. Students can only join on New Term start dates. There are year‑round language classes and enrichment programs available for all ages through the Indigo Language Center and Esara Enrichment Programs. Esara International School accepts students from ages 1.5 (18 months) up to 16 years. The school reviews each prospective student's abilities, special needs, and learning accommodation requests on a case‑by‑case basis; if the necessary support can be provided, admission is possible, otherwise the school may decide the fit is not a good match. The kitchen can accommodate students with food allergies, but if requirements are too complex for the kitchen to safely manage, these services may not be provided. The admissions process includes an interview and review of the student's reports and letters of recommendation from their previous school. It is advised to plan or submit applications at least six months in advance. The admissions process includes arranging a visit, an assessment, an application submission, and enrollment.
Admissions
1. Book a school tour (optional but recommended) Once your enquiry is received, the admissions team may invite you to visit the campus—either in person or online. Tours are scheduled by appointment and are a good way to become familiar with the facilities, meet staff, and ask specific questions.
2. Complete the online application form The admissions team will provide a link to the formal application form. Parents will need to submit student details, previous school reports in English, and other requested documentation. For Early Years applicants (ages 2–5), previous school reports are not required.
3. Interview and assessment The type and length of assessment depend on the applicant’s age:
* Early Years (2–5): a play-based session with the child and a short parent interview. * Years 1–3: a short 30-minute interview and basic assessment. * Year 4 and above: a more comprehensive 3-hour session including an essay, reading comprehension, cognitive ability testing, and an interview with a principal.
4. Decision and waitlist The school’s head, principals, and admissions team review each application considering academic performance, assessment results, interview performance, English level, and age placement. The school may contact the applicant’s previous school to check for any unresolved financial matters. Results are typically shared within 10 working days. If no space is currently available, the applicant may be placed on a waiting list.
5. Offer acceptance and submission of documents Accepted students will receive a formal offer by email along with a tuition invoice. Parents must submit additional documentation such as passports, birth certificates, Thai ID (if applicable), and details for transport or visa support. Offers expire if not accepted within ten working days.
6. Enrollment and start of school services Once the invoice is paid and documents submitted, the student is enrolled. The school then assists with uniforms, bus transport, and visa processes where required. The visa officer can guide families needing Non-Immigrant ED or Guardian-O visas.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school offers scholarships and financial aid options to deserving students. The school also provides transparent information about tuition and fees.
Scholarships
Lanna International School offers scholarships with a focus on academic achievement, talent, and personal contribution to school life.
1. Academic and Talent Scholarships (Years 5–11) Open to new students applying for entry into Years 5 to 11. These scholarships cover up to 60% of tuition fees. Selection is based on academic performance or demonstrated talent in areas such as arts, sports, STEM, or humanities. Applicants must also show good character and a commitment to school life. Awards are renewable annually, subject to review.
2. Sixth Form Scholarships (Years 12–13) Available to current Lanna students entering Year 12. Scholarships are awarded in three tiers: Gold (60%), Silver (40%), and Bronze (20%). They are based on predicted IGCSE results, school involvement, and overall contribution. The scholarship continues through Year 13, pending a review during Semester 2 of Year 12.
Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
Lanna International School operates a waitlist system when year-level spaces are full. Students may still go through the full admissions process, including assessment and interviews, even if a place is not immediately available. Those who meet the admissions criteria are placed on the waiting list.
If admission is not offered immediately, a retest may be scheduled in 3, 6, or 9 months depending on the applicant’s age and performance.
